FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 13, 2024
Contact: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson | jk@sojo.net
Sojourners Urges Senators to Carefully Consider Donald Trump’s Nomination of Kash Patel to Lead Federal Bureau of Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Sojourners President Adam Taylor made the following statement:
“In light of Christopher Wray’s statement this week stating that he plans to step down as FBI director, I specifically call on the Senate to carefully consider Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel, who has secured Trump’s favor by repeating false claims about the stolen 2020 election and vowed to ‘come after’ Trump’s enemies, including journalists.
“While some of Trump’s recent nominations seem to meet qualification standards, many require scrutiny. We who believe that competence, character, and integrity still matter have significant agency to pressure our senators to show courage in exercising their constitutional duty to approve nominations. Our network will communicate this position to our senators.”
Rev. Taylor’s statement follows Sojourners’ recent signing of a joint letter from faith leaders organized by Faithful Democracy urging Senators to carefully examine the qualifications of executive branch nominees and reject attempts to subvert or bypass the confirmation process through the use of recess appointments. The full text of that letter and list of signers follows below:
Letter to Senators Regarding Upcoming Cabinet Nominees
Faithful Democracy is a coalition of faith-based organizations advocating to create a healthy, thriving democracy where all voices are heard. We care passionately about our democracy and Constitution. As you consider incoming executive nominees, we urge you to uphold our deeply held American values, rights, freedoms, and the rule of law.
We urge you to do your duty to ensure that every executive nominee is well-qualified for their role and committed to justice, fairness, and the essential functions of our democracy.
Our faiths call us to support justice and equity. Our commitment to justice means we believe it is imperative that government officials and employees who take an oath to defend the Constitution do so in service of all Americans.
Article 2, Section 2 of our Constitution states that the President “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate , shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law”
The framers of the Constitution included the requirement of Senate “Advice and Consent” for high-ranking officers for a reason: The requirement protects our freedom, just as the Bill of Rights does, by providing a check on presidential power. Specifically, it impedes a president’s ability to place unqualified or unsuitable individuals in positions of power.
We urge you to take your authority and moral responsibility very seriously. It is critical that you engage with your Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle; that you reject any call to subvert the process through recess appointments; and that you reject nominees who are not qualified or committed to upholding the Constitution.
The Senate is the first line of defense for our Constitution. We expect you to work together with your fellow senators to uphold the normal operating procedures, decorum, and traditions that allow our government to function for all the people. Our communities are depending on you.
You can be confident that millions of Americans and faith leaders will support your efforts to uphold our Constitution. We have your back.
Faithfully,
Sojourners
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, President
Center on Faith and Justice, Georgetown University
Rev. Jim Wallis, Director
Church World Service
Reuben Eckels, Faith and Partnership Coordinator
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Rev. Séamus Finn, OMI; Director, JPIC Office & Chief of Faith Consistent Investing
The Wesleyan Church
Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent Emerita
Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence
Rev. Hope Christensen, Co-founder, CEO
Faithful America
Karli Wallace Thompson, Digital Campaigns Director
Freedom Road
Lisa Sharon Harper, President and Founder
Interfaith Alliance
Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy
Latino Christian National Network
Rev. Carlos L Malave, President
National Council of Jewish Women
Darcy Hirsh, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Min. Christian S. Watkins, Government Relations Advocate
Obra Hispana, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor and President
Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness
Rev. Christina Cosby, Representative for Domestic & Environmental Policy Concerns
Reformed Church in America
Wes Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary Emeritus
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Marianne Comfort, Justice Coordinator
South Dakota Conference of the UCC
Rev. Jean Morrow
Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens
T3 Leadership Solutions, Inc.
Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, President & CEO
The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society
Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director
United Church of Christ
Abigail Cipparone, Domestic Policy Advocate
Faith in Democracy
Rev. Jennifer Butler, Executive Director
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Sojourners is a leading Christian advocacy organization committed to social justice and peace. Through its various initiatives, Sojourners seeks to inspire and equip individuals of faith to live out their values in the public square.